ᐅ Floor plan of a semi-detached house, 7 by 16 meters, on a 390-square-meter plot in a residential development
Created on: 8 Oct 2021 10:28
M
Marc1990
Hello everyone,
we are currently in the middle of planning the floor plan. Unfortunately, I don’t have the architect’s drawing yet, but I wanted to get your opinions already. I’m afraid the house might be too dark because of the north-facing side, so I actually want to include as many windows as possible.
Thanks in advance!
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 390
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.4
Building envelope, building line, and boundary fully utilized
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 1
Number of floors: 1
Roof type: gable roof 38 degrees
Requirements of the builders
Style, roof type, building type: modern
Basement, floors: ground floor, first floor, attic
Number of occupants, age: 4 (2 adults + 2 children aged 4 & 3), but more children are planned
Office: family use or home office?
Guest bedrooms per year: 5-10
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open & island
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Carport later: yes
Utility garden
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things are desired or not: I would like everything open on the ground floor. Since we have the north side, I’m worried it will be too dark, so I try to plan windows everywhere or doors with side panels. The utility/technical room must be behind the kitchen. First floor: knee wall at 50cm (20 inches). 2 children’s bedrooms & 1 bedroom with walk-in closet. If more children come, the parents will move to the attic. I also want a laundry/utility room upstairs.
Attic: to be finished later.
House design
Planning by: self-planned
What do you particularly like? Why? Open, spacious living area
What do you not like? Why? Bathroom and toilet arrangement bothers me
Preferred heating system: not decided yet, probably heat pump
If you have to give up any details or additions
- can give up: upstairs utility room, freestanding bathtub
- cannot give up: kitchen layout, windows
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Can I plan the windows better so it stays nice and bright? And I don’t like the bathroom 100%, would appreciate tips.
we are currently in the middle of planning the floor plan. Unfortunately, I don’t have the architect’s drawing yet, but I wanted to get your opinions already. I’m afraid the house might be too dark because of the north-facing side, so I actually want to include as many windows as possible.
Thanks in advance!
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 390
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.4
Building envelope, building line, and boundary fully utilized
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 1
Number of floors: 1
Roof type: gable roof 38 degrees
Requirements of the builders
Style, roof type, building type: modern
Basement, floors: ground floor, first floor, attic
Number of occupants, age: 4 (2 adults + 2 children aged 4 & 3), but more children are planned
Office: family use or home office?
Guest bedrooms per year: 5-10
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open & island
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Carport later: yes
Utility garden
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things are desired or not: I would like everything open on the ground floor. Since we have the north side, I’m worried it will be too dark, so I try to plan windows everywhere or doors with side panels. The utility/technical room must be behind the kitchen. First floor: knee wall at 50cm (20 inches). 2 children’s bedrooms & 1 bedroom with walk-in closet. If more children come, the parents will move to the attic. I also want a laundry/utility room upstairs.
Attic: to be finished later.
House design
Planning by: self-planned
What do you particularly like? Why? Open, spacious living area
What do you not like? Why? Bathroom and toilet arrangement bothers me
Preferred heating system: not decided yet, probably heat pump
If you have to give up any details or additions
- can give up: upstairs utility room, freestanding bathtub
- cannot give up: kitchen layout, windows
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Can I plan the windows better so it stays nice and bright? And I don’t like the bathroom 100%, would appreciate tips.
I think it would make more sense to change the layout of the rooms rather than their size. I COULD consider placing the entrance on the side, but whether that would be better is questionable since we only have a width of 7 meters (23 feet). We don’t need an attic at the moment because we only have two children and each has their own room.
M
Myrna_Loy8 Oct 2021 11:30The children's rooms are not small, but their poor layout makes the space difficult to use effectively. Again, there are narrow corridors with a pass-through character. A children's room needs enough space for a bed, desk, wardrobe, storage, play area, and lighting.
Given these requirements, you need a skilled architect—not just a standard drafter who works with typical floor plans.
Given these requirements, you need a skilled architect—not just a standard drafter who works with typical floor plans.
One of the kids’ rooms has a floor-to-ceiling window plus a skylight, while the other only has a skylight. I think the skylight will let in plenty of light—at least, I hope so. Because of the 7m (23 feet) width limit, I can’t really plan the rooms as square as I’d like. But each room is planned to include one bed, one desk, and a 2-meter (6.5 feet) wardrobe, and everything fits. So it's sufficient for us at least. Reducing the size of the bedroom doesn’t help either (which we’ve already considered), as it would just make it more narrow and corridor-like. But if you have any ideas on how we could improve the layout, I’m open to suggestions—that’s what I’m here for 🙂
I don’t understand the staircase at all – as it’s drawn, it can’t actually be used.
Are you required to have the front side follow a duplex building style like the neighbors?
Why does the utility room (TK) have to be at the front or next to the kitchen?
Is the kitchen supposed to extend across the entire house width of 6 to 7 meters (20 to 23 feet)? That would mean a lot of walking back and forth during repeated daily tasks. Honestly? That’s not practical. Not ergonomic in any way.
If everything were freely adjustable, I would probably locate the utility room and guest toilet near the staircase in the middle of the house due to orientation. Even if that means the drawback of no window for the toilet. A toilet is a service space, and I’d prioritize letting western sunlight into the living areas.
In my opinion, the kitchen belongs next to the terrace... especially with two or more children.
Therefore, I would place an open-plan kitchen living area at the back, facing east, protected by the WC module and stairs.
I’m currently thinking of @Bertram100’s row house and a version I designed for a small detached house in Austria or Switzerland, where the entrance worked better on the side—even if the original poster didn’t implement it that way. I can’t find the thread about my search. Maybe another user can help? @driver55 Do you remember the zigzag roofs?
Are you required to have the front side follow a duplex building style like the neighbors?
Why does the utility room (TK) have to be at the front or next to the kitchen?
Is the kitchen supposed to extend across the entire house width of 6 to 7 meters (20 to 23 feet)? That would mean a lot of walking back and forth during repeated daily tasks. Honestly? That’s not practical. Not ergonomic in any way.
If everything were freely adjustable, I would probably locate the utility room and guest toilet near the staircase in the middle of the house due to orientation. Even if that means the drawback of no window for the toilet. A toilet is a service space, and I’d prioritize letting western sunlight into the living areas.
In my opinion, the kitchen belongs next to the terrace... especially with two or more children.
Therefore, I would place an open-plan kitchen living area at the back, facing east, protected by the WC module and stairs.
I’m currently thinking of @Bertram100’s row house and a version I designed for a small detached house in Austria or Switzerland, where the entrance worked better on the side—even if the original poster didn’t implement it that way. I can’t find the thread about my search. Maybe another user can help? @driver55 Do you remember the zigzag roofs?
I designed the staircase this way because it meets the desired dimensions and, of course, should be accessible from the front. We need to comply with the 7x16 requirement and have agreed on this with the neighbor. The kitchen layout should remain as planned: a 3-meter (10 feet) tall wall unit in a row in front of the window plus an island. We had also planned the utility room next to the staircase in the middle of the room, but the architect said this is not possible; apparently, it needs to be against an exterior wall for access in case of maintenance. I would also like to have the kitchen by the terrace, but then the living room would need to be on the west side, where the “street” is, and I wouldn’t want floor-to-ceiling windows there because I would feel observed. However, I will try it with the main entrance and see if that works out better.
Similar topics